Gaetz probably holding out for the drama and to be the one who allowed McCarthy to have it at the bitter end.

Also, Kevin Hern is supposed to be on his way to his mother’s funeral, but is here. Doing this.

The applause was for Hunt (TX) who left his brand-new preemie baby and wife to come back and do this.

Good (VA) votes for Jordan. Gosar doesn’t vote. So eyes on Rosendale and then Gaetz at the end.

Gaetz didn’t vote. We don’t know if he won’t at all or if he’s waiting to the second round of the roll call. Not voting changes the math like voting present.

Hmmm. Crane (AZ) votes Biggs. I would have pegged him for “present.”

Ken Buck (R-CO) doesn’t respond on first vote. Maybe he’s not there?

Biggs (AZ) votes for Jim Jordan. Boebert votes present.

The lobbying of some of the holdouts—Rosendale (MT), Crane (AZ), Gaetz (FL)—by McCarthy deputies is ongoing on the floor even now.

Talks about how once again, on Jan. 6, they are coming back to the House late at night to vote, but this time it is not to come together but with Republicans further dividing the nation. And makes the point that some of those 147 members who egged that insurrection, that attack on are now going to be in charge. GOP grumbled and yelled, Dems yelled back “truth.”

Democrats have used every opportunity to recall Jan. 6, while the GOP has strenuously ignored it. Aguilar talking about the significance and the grandeur of the place where they are, and all of the people who make it that, “the people who make this place work, the people who Hakeem Jeffries will never take for granted.”

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) once again nominates Democrat Hakeem Jeffries.

This will be the next two years. Gaetz and the maniacs reminding everyone who is actually in charge.

Pretending like this is democracy, and “debate.” And that what they’re doing—handing over the House of Representatives to the insurrectionists on the 2nd anniversary of Jan. 6—is part of the great American tradition. And that Kevin McCarthy “allowed” this greatness to happen, rather than having been beaten into submission by the maniacs.

So anxious everyone is to get this done, Clerk Cheryl Johnson went out of order. She was supposed to call the counters up first, then recognize him. Just a little bobble in procedure.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) nominating McCarthy.

I think this is a good bet. 

Here’s the latest version of the rules package.